What Everyone Should Know About Preventing Natural Gas Explosions

This blog entry discusses basic safety issues relative to natural gas and propane. Q&As include:

1. What is natural gas?
2. Why is it called natural gas?
3. Does natural gas have an odor?
4. How did natural gas form?
5. What causes natural gas line explosions?
6. What precautions should you take to avoid a gas line explosion?
7. What should you do if you think you smell natural gas inside your home or business?
8. What is coal gas?
9. What is propane gas?
10. How do you prevent a propane gas line explosion?
11. Where can you get advice & help about managing your natural gas resources?

What is natural gas?

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that contains many different compounds, the largest of which is methane. Along with carbon dioxide, there’s also pentane, hexane, butane, ethane, and a few other anes you’ve probably never heard of unless you go to work wearing a white lab coat (see source).

Why is it called natural gas?

There are two answers to this:

1. We call it “natural” because it’s not manmade; it naturally developed millions to hundreds-of-millions of years ago. (See Q.4)
2. We also call it “natural” to contrast it with something called “coal gas” (aka town gas), which is manmade. (See Q.8)

Does natural gas have an odor?

Yes and no. Natural gas is colorless, odorless, and non-toxic. So, a chemical odorant is added to it, similar to the smell of rotten eggs. This way, gas leaks can be detected and corrected before anything untoward happens in your neighborhood—like a natural gas explosion (see source).

How did natural gas form?

Quite naturally, although the process took millions to hundreds-of-millions of years. The remains of plants and animals (such as diatoms) became thick layers on Earth’s surface and ocean floors. These layers were buried under sand, silt, and rock. Pressure and heat changed some of these carbon- and hydrogen-rich materials into coal, oil, and natural gas (see source).

What causes natural gas line explosions?

Natural gas leaking into an enclosed environment will mix with ambient air and thereby increase the pressure inside the space. Under such conditions, any spark or flame will ignite the gas and cause an explosion. Besides natural gas, methane, propane, and butane gases will also explode under similar circumstances. Some common causes are defective, poorly maintained, or incorrectly-installed gas appliances; old, rusty, and/or damaged gas lines; and faulty propane tanks, tubes, valves, and regulators.

What precautions should you take to avoid a gas line explosion?

Install detectors anywhere gas could possibly accumulate and where people will be able to hear the alarm. Regularly monitor and service your gas detection equipment. E.g., make sure the batteries are working.

What should you do if you think you smell natural gas inside your home or business?

• Do not light matches, turn on light switches, or use any power source. Vacate immediately to a safe location 300 feet away or more. Close the door behind you. Make sure you leave nobody behind. Call 911 immediately.
• Maintain and monitor gas detection equipment on a regular basis. Make sure the batteries are working. It is also wise to have your gas detectors periodically checked by professionals.

What is coal gas?

Coal gas is made by vigorously heating coal in the absence of air. In some places it’s called town gas, as it was produced & sold to consumers through municipal pipelines (see source).

Before the development of natural gas refining and distribution technologies (during the 1940s and 50s in the U.S. and until the early 70s in the UK), virtually all gas for fuel and lighting was town gas.

But the trouble with town gas is that it’s extremely toxic. So much so that during those decades, a popular method of committing suicide was inhaling gas from an unlit oven. Ergo the phrase, “sticking your head in the oven.” (Sylvia Plath famously ended her life this way.) (See source.)

In fact, as town gas was phased out and replaced with natural gas, which is nontoxic, the annual number of suicides in England and Wales declined nearly 60 percent while continuing to increase in most other European countries, apparently the result of making felo-de-se less easy and convenient (see source).

What is propane gas?

Propane (aka liquefied petroleum gas or LPG) is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Natural gas is compressed by cooling it to -2590 F—a very energy-intensive undertaking—and then stored as a liquid (see source). Like natural gas, propane is nontoxic, colorless, and virtually odorless. An odorant is added so it can be detected.

In households, propane is commonly used for heat, hot water, and cooking. Industrially, it’s used to motivate forklifts, farm equipment, fleet vehicles, buses, and other sorts of internal combustion engines that would otherwise use diesel or gasoline. (Propane is called “autogas” when used as vehicle fuel.) (See source.)

How do you prevent a propane gas line explosion?

• Never use an outdoor propane appliance indoors or in enclosed areas (e.g., portable heaters, grills, and generators). The risk here is uncontrolled fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, or in the worst scenario—death.
• Don’t store combustible materials near appliances that burn propane. So, In extreme heat, make sure there’s at least a ten-foot radius around your propane tank that’s free of combustible or easily ignited material (e.g., leaves, brush, vegetation, or rags) (see source).
• Don’t store propane cylinders indoors or in an enclosed area (e.g., basements, garages, sheds, tents, or your living room).
• Unless you’re a trained technician with the proper credentials, resist the temptation to repair or modify propane valves, regulators, and other such paraphernalia.
• If you even think you smell propane gas (i.e., rotten eggs), do not light matches, turn on light switches, or use any power source. Instead, make your way to the exits and call the fire department.

Where can you get advice & help about managing your natural gas resources?

As in all things concerning hazardous materials, the experience, knowledge, and technical resources of a reputable hazmat management company are essential to keeping you safe and legal.

Depend on Hazardous Waste Experts to provide you with relevant and timely information concerning all aspects of hazmat management. Don’t take chances with hazardous materials. Get expert advice!

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